Commuters heading through Street will have to contend with roadworks and temporary traffic lights for the next four months.

Somerset Council announced in late-November 2025 that it would be replacing six sets of traffic lights along the A39 Westway in Street, which are reaching the end of their working life.

Temporary traffic lights are currently in effect at the junction with Farm Road, with the remaining lights being installed and entering operation on Tuesday morning (January 6).

The work – which will also include resurfacing and active travel improvements – is scheduled to be completed by late-April, with a small number of evening and overnight closures being required.

Each of the existing sets of lights are more than 30 years old and are in danger of failure if left unchecked.

These latest roadworks – and the concurrent programme at the A396 Dunster Steep junction near Minehead – form part of the council's ongoing initiative to replace obsolete traffic signals across the county, which has already seen improvements carried out in Bridgwater, Shepton Mallet, Taunton, Wells and Yeovil.

'Intelligent' temporary traffic lights will be in operation throughout the work, which will mirror the timings of the current signals – meaning that traffic should not experience significant delays.

The work involves significant excavation, as all the old ducting and wiring as well as the traffic light heads must be removed from the ground and replaced.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, said that the council's highways contractor Octavius would seek to minimise disruption wherever possible.

Mr Wilkins (who represents the nearby Curry Rivel and Langport division) stated in late-November: "These are very busy junctions and we are pleased to see this vital work taking place, replacing end of life equipment and ensuring the signals are fit for purpose for the next 30 years.

"We are aware there will be disruption at peak traffic times and during school and college drop-offs and pick-ups, as well as during peak shopping times. The team will be working hard to minimise this."

The A39 is one of Somerset's busiest roads, serving a number of sizeable towns and villages (including Bridgwater, Street, Glastonbury and Wells) and serving as one of the main freight roads through the county.

Towards the end of the roadworks, a lengthy section between the Street roundabout and the Westway roundabout will be resurfaced – which will be carried out through a limited number of evening and overnight road closures.

These closures, and any alterations to the programme, will be made available on the council's official roadworks portal, which can be viewed by visiting www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-travel-and-parking/roadworks-and-travel.

As part of the work, a new shared use path for pedestrians and cyclists will be constructed, linking up with the Farm Road underpass and other existing paths.

This specific element will be delivered by central government funding from Active Travel England (part of the Department for Transport), which was originally allocated to delivering an improved cycle link between Dunster and Carhampton.

The council confirmed in mid-December 2025 that this £1.5m scheme had been scrapped due to "logistical challenges", with the funding being reallocated to the Street scheme due to time constraints.